Self-balancing creel



Nov. 7, 19 w. w. ARNOLD, JR

SELF

BALANCING CREEL Filed Dec. 28, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l a m h. x 2 fl L 7%,2 n WW 7 -1 Av c L.

INVENTOR WZZZza ArizoZdJ:

Nov. 7, 1939. w, w, ARNOLD, JR I 2.179.247

SELF-BALANCING CREEL Filed Dec. 28, 1938' :s sheets-shed 2 N v- 7, 93 w.w. ARNOLD. JR

' SELF-BALANCING CREEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec/28, 1938 m m 6 a m w w1 y w w a 3 INVENTOR I RNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to creels and other rotatable devices and has foran object to provide a simple means for compensating for any unequaldistribution of weight during rotation.

F; Specifically this invention relates to rotatable creels and has foran object to provide a selfbalancing creel of improved construction.

Another object is to provide an inner frame containing the spools, whichframe may be tilted at each end during rotation in order to balance anycentrifugally unbalanced forces.

When the creel is rotated in forming a cord of strands twisted togetherthere is less danger of the strands being applied under non-uniform 5tension than when the creel does not rotate.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal View partly in section of a creel embodyingthis invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal View also partly in seczo tion of the device ofFig. 1, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. The outer frame I isrotated by means of a flexible belt or other mechanism for driving thepulley I I so that the several strands being pulled out through thecentral stem l2 are rapidly rotated or twisted. The outer frame includesside members [3 and I4 which may be cast integrally with the top andbottom portions of the outer frame. Between these side members aremounted removable cover portions l5 and i6 shown more clearly in Figs. 3and 4. Within the outer frame is an inner frame I! in which arerotatably supported a plurality of spools or reels on which the severalstrands are mounted.

Fig. 2 shows how the strands from the several spools pass overtensioning and guiding pulleys I9 and then out through the central steml2. The 40 central stem is carried by the top portion of the outerframe, and secured to the'lower part of the stem I2 and a convex ballrace about which the balls 2i rotate as the inner frame may be tilted.

It should be understood the inner frame I! is normally supported by theconvex ball race 20 or, in other words, hung from the top portion of theouter frame. At the lower part of the outer frame is a concave ball race22 with which the balls 23 carried by the inner frame are adapted tocooperate. Normally the inner frame hangs with the inner balls 23 out ofcontact with the concave ball race 22. During rapid rotation of thecreel, in event one of the spools l8 might be unevenly loaded or if, forany other reason,

weight should not be uniformly distributed, centrifugal force tends totilt the inner frame, the heavier side being forced radially outward. Insuch case one or more of the balls 23 carried by the bottom of the innerframe engage the sides of the concave race 22. The concave race 22 iscurved more steeply than is the convex race 20 so that as the innerframe swings outward the balls 23 tend to ride up the steeper curve andraise that portion of the inner frame. This raising of a portion of theinner frame at the bottom permits tilting of the upper portion of theinner frame by the balls 2! rolling on the convex race 28. In this waythe creel may be made self balancing so as to substantially reducevibrations during rotation. The lower part of the inner frame is shownin Fig. 2 as being spaced from the shaft Ila as indicated at 24 in orderto permit substantial tilting of the inner frame. The shaft Ila of theouter frame may thus act as a stop to limit excessive tilting of theinner frame at the bottom. At the top the central stem I2 is likewisespaced from the inner frame to limit tilting.

The space 24 at the bottom is for convenience made about one-half inch,while that at the top about five-eighths of an inch. As shown in Figs.1, 2 and 3 an intermediate plate 25 is driven by means of rods or links21 and 29 which have a ball and socket connection 26 with an extensionsecured to the top portion of the outer casing. These rods 2'! and 29are pivotally connected to the plate 25 by the bifurcated ends throughwhich is passed a bolt or screw. In order that the inner frame I! may befree to tilt in any direction at the top, the plate 25 is connected withthe top of the inner frame by means of the rods 36 and SI arrangedsubstantially normally to the rods 21 and 29. At one end these rods areconnected to the intermediate plate 25 and at their other endsuniversally connected or loosely swiveled to the top plate 32 of theinner frame ll. Balls 33 are arranged between the plate 25 and the topplate 32 to provide means enabling the plate 25 to be tilted to someextent with top plate 32.

Handles 34 and 35 are provided on the removable cover portions l5 and Hirespectively to enable these covers to be quickly removed to facilitateaccess to the spools mounted on the inner frame. The connection shown inFig. 3 between the outer frame and the inner frame shows that the innerframe is being pulled in a counterclockwise direction.

In event it should be desired to reverse the direction of rotation ofthe outer frame, it will then be found desirable to disconnect the rods21 and 29 and connect them in the same universal manner to the topportion of the outer plate at 36 and 31. The rods 30 and 3| may belikewise reversed and connected to the intermediate plate 25 at 38 and39 respectively.

Among the advantages of this invention may be mentioned the ease,facility and rapidity with which the inner frame is made self-balancingunder high speed operation. If it were not so self-balancing, therewould be considerable vibration as speeds of 1500 to 2500 R. P. M., arecontemplated. The driving connections between the outer and inner framesenable the inner frame to float and tilt at both the top and bottom andlikewise the plate 25 to have a limited floating character. Fig. 3 showshow four balls 33 are suflicient while a much larger number of balls 2|is found desirable for supporting the inner frame and spools.

The reason for allowing more clearance for tilting of the inner frame atthe top than is allowed at the bottom is so that an unbalanced conditionof the loaded frame 9'! enables the support of this frame to be at leastpartially shifted from the top to the bottom during rapid rotation.Reducing the clearance at the bottom helps to create the effect of a topspinning at a speed not suificient to make it stand in a verticalposition and the reduced'clearance at the bottom helps the inner framell" to find its center of gravity more readily in case of extrememovement caused by any unbalance.

I claim:

1. A rotatable creel for twisting strands in the formation of cord, saidcreel comprising a plurality of spaced spools of strand material, meansenabling said creel to tilt in response to any centrifugal unbalance,said means including a support and guide for said creel at the top andbottom arranged to facilitate tilting of the creel at both the top andbottom.

2. A rotatable creel comprising a supporting frame for a plurality ofspools, means for supporting said frame near the top thereof andenabling the frame to tilt in any direction, guides adjacent the bottomof said frame for raising an outward swung portion of the frame andchanging the location of said top supporting means when a lower portionof said frame has been swung outward by any centrifugal unbalance ofsubstantial amount.

3. A rotatable creel comprising a supporting frame for a plurality ofspools, means for supporting said frame near the top thereof andenabling the frame to tilt in any direction, said means including aconvex ball race on which the frame is supported by balls, a concaveball 1 race adjacent the bottom with which balls carried by the lowerend of the frame may engage in tilting, the tilting of the bottom partof the frame being effective to tilt the upper portion of said frame.

4. A revolving self balancing creel comprising an outer rotarily fixedframe, means for rotating said frame, an inner frame contain ng spools,a driving connection between said frames, said connection including auniversal joint, and means responsive to any unbalanced centrifugalforce for tilting the inner frame with respect to the outer about apoint adjacent the center of said inner frame.

5. A centrifugally self-balancing rotatable device including an outerframe, means for rotating the same, an inner frame, a universal drivingconnection between the inner and outer frames, a convex ball race withinthe inner frame at one end and carried by the outer frame, balls betweensaid race and the inner frame, a concave ball race carried by the outerframe adjacent the opposite end thereof, balls between inner frame andconcave race, whereby the inner frame may be tilted by one race on theother.

6. A centrifugally self-balancing rotatable device including an outerframe, means for rotating the same, an inner frame, a diving connectionbetween said frames for rotating the inner frame and constructed topermit the end of the inner frame adjacent said driving connection to betilted in any direction while being driven.

'7. A centrifugally self-balancing rotatable device including an outerframe, means for rotating the same, an inner frame, means for suspendingthe inner frame from the outer, and centrifugally responsive means forchanging the location of said suspending means with respect to saidinner frame.

8. A centrifugally self-balancing rotatable device including an outerframe, means for rotating the same, an inner frame, means for suspendingthe inner frame from the outer, and centrifugally responsive means forchanging the location of said suspension means with respect to the innerframe.

9. The combination with an outer rotatable frame, of an inner rotatableself-balancing frame carried by the outer frame, a bearing at one endfor the inner frame when unbalanced, said bearing being constructed toshift the opposite end of the inner frame by tilting, and a hearing atsaid opposite end by which the inner frame may be suspended from theouter and including a convex race with ball bearings between said raceand the inner frame.

10. The combination with an outer rotatable frame, of an inner rotatableself-balancing frame carried by the outer frame, means suspending theinner frame from the outer enabling the inner to an outer frame fromwhich the inner frame is suspended, means responsive to any unbalance inthe inner frame for tilting both the top and bottom of the inner frameon rotation, the tilting at the top and bottom being in oppositedirections,

and means for limiting the amount of tilting at the bottom to a lessamount than that permitted at the top.

12. A rotatable creel comprising an inner frame, an outer frame fromwhich the inner frame is suspended, means responsive to any unbalance inthe inner frame for tilting both the top and bottom of the inner frameon rotation, said means including mechanism for shifting a substantialpart of the support of the inner frame from adjacent its top to adjacentthe bottom of the inner frame so that a substantial part of the weightof the inner frame will be supported by the outer frame adjacent thebottom of the inner frame in tilting.

WILLIAM W. ARNOLD, JR.

